Vehicle-wheel.



No. 849,095. PATENTED APR. 2, 1907.

A. A. AMBLER.

VEHICLE WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED-MAR. 12.1906.

" Springfield, in the county of Clark and State structed of a flexible or elastic character.

1 jars and shocks,-due to the unevenness in the tween said nut and the collarc? and encir- Be it known that I, ARTHUR A. AMB ER, a

vehicle-wheels, and it more particularly reand combinations of partshereinafter described, and set forth in the claims.-

.terior of its boss is a hemisphericallyshaped UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 2, 1907.

Application 516a March 12, 1906. .Serial No. 305,696.

To all whom/it may concern:

citizen of the United States, residing at of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Wheels, 0

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to-v improvements in lates to a wheel of the suspension type con- The object of my invention is to provide a and elastic in its nature to compensate for road or to obstructions, &c. v f

My inventionconsists in the constructions In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle-wheel embodying my invention, -part of the hub-casing being broken away to better show the parts. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same, taken through the center of the hub. Fig. 3 is a detail showing a modification.

Like parts are represented by similar char-. acters of reference in the several views.

rim or felly of the wheel, having preferably In the said drawings, a represents a metallic formed thereon a metallic channel a toreceive 'a rubber'tire 0 The hub b of the wheel is formed hollow, with one of its sides removable to permit access thereto, andis provided on its periphery with a series of radial bosses I), These bosses are perforated and have extending therein a series of metallic spokesc, having T-shaped outer heads 0. About each of the spokes within the incollar 0 the inner face of the boss being formed of a shape to correspond with the shape of thecollar, as shown. Said collar preferably has an extended sleeve '0 about said spoke tolietter maintain the relation of the parts. On the inner end of each of the spokes is an adjusting or compression-nut c, the inner end of the, spoke being, .formed screw-threaded to receive the same, and be cling the spokeis placed a helical spring 0 Each of the series of radial spokes c is con nected to the felly or rim of the wheel by flexi ble straps d of fibrous material, such asleather, canvas belting, or other similar sub- 1 stance. These connecting-straps for each spoke are preferably four in number, arranged in pairs, each pair being connected to the T-head on either side of the spoke. The straps of each pair are further connected to opposite sides of the .T-head, as-shown, and to opposite sides of the rim or felly. The re-' spective pairs of straps diverge from said T- head to their respective points of attach-- 'ment to the wheel-rim, as shown. i

By the construction described I have provided a wheel which will not only take up the shock incidental to passing, over obstructions, but by reason of the flexible connecting-Straps d and the constructions described of the universal joint formed by the hemispherically-shaped collar and corresponding face of the boss the rim of the wheel will be permitted'to swerve or spring laterally independent of the hub when meeting certain ob structions,permitting the hub to continue in its straight running course. Thenuts on the respective spokes provide means for adjusting the device to take up any lost motion and also to secure more or less resilience in the wheel, according to the load of the vehicle or the desire of the operator.

In Fig. 3 I have shown-a modification in which instead of the helical spring (2 I employ an elastic cushion of rubber e. In this construction, also, I dispense with thesleevec on the collar 0 The flexible straps on opposite sides of the T-heads are diverged, as before stated, to'

their respective points of connection to the rim, this divergence being such as to bring the said straps substantially tangent to a circle'within the hub. By this construction it will be seen that the twisting action of the hub, (in the case of the drivi'ngwheels of a motor-vehicle, for instance). will bring the line of strain on the rim in a direct line from the center of the hemispherical joints. In other words, this action will tend to bring the flexible connecting-strap on'the forward side of the wheel in line with its spoke if the vehicle is moving forward and the strap on the opposite side in line with said spoke when the vehicle is backed By this construction.

whenever'a torsional strain is brought upon the wheel it will be distributed throughout the entire periphery of the wheel, the said strain being through the radial spokes'and the respective series of straps on that side of the radial centers of the spokes in the direction inwhich the wheel is turning, depending or backwardlyu specified.

interposed'cushion between its inner end and on whether the vehicle is moving forwardly Having thus described-only invention, 1'- clairn-v 1. In a vehicle-wheel, an outer rim, an inner hub, a series of spokes radiating from said hub, interposed'eushions between the spokes and hub, and a separate'flexible connecting part between each of'said spokes and said rim, substantially as specified.

2. Ina vehicle-wheel, an outer riin', a series of inner spokes, a series of flexible connecting parts between said spokes and rim, andan' inner hub suspended by said inner spokes, and an interposed cushion between each of said spokes and said hub, substantially as ported on said cushions, substantially as,

specified.

5; In a vehicle-wheel, an outer rim, an inner hollow hub having radial spokes projecting therefrom, each of said spokes having an the interior of said hub, and two. or more flexible connecting parts between the outer end of each of said spokes and the wheel-rim, said flexible connecting parts diverging from said'spoke in their points of connection to said run, substantially as specified.

6. In a vehicle-wheel, an outer rim, an inner hub, radial spokes in said hub, flexible rim independent of In I connections from said spokes to sa d run, cushions on said spokes, and a universal! bearingbetween each of said cushions and said 'hub to permit lateral movement of said saidhub, substantially as specified. v

7. In a vehicle-wheel, an outer run, an inner hub,..spokes radiating from said hub,

flexible connections from'the outer ends of said 'spokes'to said rim, a cushion on each of said spokes within said hub, and a c'ollaron each spoke between its springs and the hub having a rounded bearing-face, the said hub at thepoint of contact with said collars being correspondingly formed, substantially as specified.

S. In a vehicle-wheel, an outer rim, an inner hub, spokes radiating from said hub, .the'

V outerends of said spokes being connected to said rim by flexible connections, an adjust ing-nut on the inner end of each. spoke, a collar provided with a rounded bearing-face also on each spoke Within said hub and providing a' universal bearing for said hub which is formed at the point of contact of ashape to correspond to the rounded faceof said collar, and a cushion between said nut and collar, substantially as specified.

9. In a vehicle-wheel, an'outer rim, an inner hub, radial -spokes projecting from said hub, interposed cushions between said spokes and hub, a T-shaped head on the outer end of each of said spokes, flexible connecting parts connected tosaid head on opposite sides of the radial center of said spoke, said flexible connecting parts being diverged and connected to said rim, substantially as speciiied.

Intestimony whereof have hereuntoset my hand this 28th day of February, A. -D. 1906.

v ARTHUR AMBLER.

Witnesses: I

CHA's. I. WELCH, CLARA GALLAGHER. 

